'''Joasaph II of Constantinople''' was the Patriarch of Constantinople from 1556 to 1565. He rebuffed feelers for intercommunion from the Lutherans.

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'''Joasaph II of Constantinople''' was the Patriarch of Constantinople from 1555 to 1565. He rebuffed feelers for intercommunion from the Lutherans.

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Patr. Joasaph is credited with establishing, in 1556, the Patriarchal School in Constantinople, with the assistance of Ioannis, Zygomalas[http://wiki.phantis.com/index.php/Great_School_of_the_Nation] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Orthodoxy_in_Greece] that became the Great School of the Nation in the [[Phanar]] district of Constantinople (Istanbul).

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==Life==

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Little is known of the early life of Joasaph. He was born in Thrace and was educated in Ioannina. He continued his education in Nafplio in northern Peloponnese, learning Arabic, Persian, and Turkish. He joined the Orthodox [[clergy]] and, in 1535, was [[consecration of a bishop|consecrated]] [[bishop]] of Adrianople by Patriarch Jeremias I. After the death of the [[Dionysius II of Constantinople|Patriarch Dionysius II]], he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople in August 1555, having gained a reduction of the appointment fee (''peshtesh'') due to the Ottoman Sultan to one thousand Écus.

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In 1559, Patr. Joasaph received correspondence forwarding a translated copy of the Lutheran "Confession of Augsburg" as a opening to a dialog with the Orthodox Church. However, Joasaph and the [[Holy Synod]] found the doctrine heretical and never responded.

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Joasaph was successful in establishing number of reforms in the patriarchate. He promoted improved education among the [[clergy]], reformed the administration of the assets of the patriarchate, and, by reducing by half the debts, improved the finances of the Patriarchate. He also initiated a major enlargement of the Patriarchal palace.

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Patr. Joasaph is credited with establishing, in 1556, the Patriarchal School in Constantinople, with the assistance of Ioannis, Zygomalas[http://wiki.phantis.com/index.php/Great_School_of_the_Nation] [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Timeline_of_Orthodoxy_in_Greece] that became the Great School of the Nation in the [[Phanar]] district of Constantinople.

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While he showed interest in the Protestant Reformation, including in 1558 sending the [[deacon]] Demetrios to Wittenberg to collect information and receiving, in 1559, correspondence forwarding a translated copy of the Lutheran "Confession of Augsburg" as a opening to a dialog with the Orthodox Church, his interest did not any changes in relations with the rebellious Western churches. Patr. Joasaph and the [[Holy Synod]] of Constantinople found the doctrine heretical and never responded.

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However, Patr. Joasaph's reforms and expensive projects, as well as his haughty manner towards the clergy and independent management of the patriarchal finances, created many opponents among the Greek Orthodox community. Ultimately, it was his handling of the request, in 1557, by [[Ivan IV of Russia|Ivan the Terrible]] of Russia to have his title of Tsar formally confirmed that led to his [[deposition]]. Instead of convening a [[synod]] to deliberate the issue, Patr. Joasaph sent to Russia a forged synodical document and then collected the rich reward for himself. After his deceit was discovered, he was deposed by a synod of sixty bishops on [[January 15]], 1565 and exiled to [[Mount Athos]].

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{{succession|

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{{succession |

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before=?|

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title=Bishop of Adrianople|

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years=1535&mdash;1556|

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after=?}}

before=Dionyius II|

before=Dionyius II|

title=[[List of Patriarchs of Constantinople|Patriarch of Constantinople]]||

title=[[List of Patriarchs of Constantinople|Patriarch of Constantinople]]||

Revision as of 13:43, November 30, 2011

Joasaph II of Constantinople was the Patriarch of Constantinople from 1555 to 1565. He rebuffed feelers for intercommunion from the Lutherans.

Life

Little is known of the early life of Joasaph. He was born in Thrace and was educated in Ioannina. He continued his education in Nafplio in northern Peloponnese, learning Arabic, Persian, and Turkish. He joined the Orthodox clergy and, in 1535, was consecratedbishop of Adrianople by Patriarch Jeremias I. After the death of the Patriarch Dionysius II, he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople in August 1555, having gained a reduction of the appointment fee (peshtesh) due to the Ottoman Sultan to one thousand Écus.

Joasaph was successful in establishing number of reforms in the patriarchate. He promoted improved education among the clergy, reformed the administration of the assets of the patriarchate, and, by reducing by half the debts, improved the finances of the Patriarchate. He also initiated a major enlargement of the Patriarchal palace.

Patr. Joasaph is credited with establishing, in 1556, the Patriarchal School in Constantinople, with the assistance of Ioannis, Zygomalas[1][2] that became the Great School of the Nation in the Phanar district of Constantinople.

While he showed interest in the Protestant Reformation, including in 1558 sending the deacon Demetrios to Wittenberg to collect information and receiving, in 1559, correspondence forwarding a translated copy of the Lutheran "Confession of Augsburg" as a opening to a dialog with the Orthodox Church, his interest did not any changes in relations with the rebellious Western churches. Patr. Joasaph and the Holy Synod of Constantinople found the doctrine heretical and never responded.

However, Patr. Joasaph's reforms and expensive projects, as well as his haughty manner towards the clergy and independent management of the patriarchal finances, created many opponents among the Greek Orthodox community. Ultimately, it was his handling of the request, in 1557, by Ivan the Terrible of Russia to have his title of Tsar formally confirmed that led to his deposition. Instead of convening a synod to deliberate the issue, Patr. Joasaph sent to Russia a forged synodical document and then collected the rich reward for himself. After his deceit was discovered, he was deposed by a synod of sixty bishops on January 15, 1565 and exiled to Mount Athos.